Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!

Realizing that it's very likely to trigger a side quest, Jiang Yuan straightened up and responded, "Senior, please speak. As long as I can do it, I will surely try my best!"

"You are a human cultivator, which is excellent. It can be of great help." The old dragon rummaged through the storage bag for a moment, took out a jade pendant, and thoughtfully said, "Among the top ten sects of ancient times, the relationship with demon cultivators is still relatively mild, except for the Black Tortoise Pavilion, which values race the most. So it should be smoother if you go personally."

Black Tortoise Pavilion?

Great, I've recently learned of three of the top ten ancient sects—Cloud Concealment Sect where Xie Chenyuan resides; Qingfeng Hall where the side quest requires visiting; now, there is Black Tortoise Pavilion.

Jiang Yuan listened attentively.

The old dragon sighed and said, "I once mentioned that I traveled the world and visited many places, relying on my unique birth—neither human nor demon—and was once friends with the young pavilion master of Black Tortoise Pavilion. But at that time, both sides were young and impulsive, disagreed on certain matters, fought out of anger, and never saw each other again.

Now... if anyone can detoxify me, I'm afraid it's only her.

Little friend, please take this jade pendant to Black Tortoise Pavilion and seek out Lin Yao. So many years have passed, she is likely to have become the pavilion master of Black Tortoise Pavilion. At that time, just truthfully inform her of my situation, and if she is willing to help, there is still hope for me."

[Side Quest Triggered: Detoxification]

[The old dragon Zhou Jian is afflicted with a strange poison urgently needing an antidote. Please assist him in getting detoxified smoothly to earn substantial special rewards]

[Task 1: Go to Black Tortoise Pavilion and seek help from Lin Yao. Reward: Armor (Upper Garment) Blueprint Fragment +1]

Sure enough, a side quest has been triggered, and the reward is an upper garment blueprint. Once it's complete, it can be forged at the Treasure Forging Workshop and equipped — another piece collected!

"I've heard that the top ten ancient sects are all in unknown places, so how do I find Black Tortoise Pavilion?" Jiang Yuan took the jade pendant and inspected it, raising his eyebrow slightly.

[Cloud Pattern Jade Pendant: A token of commitment from Lin Yao of Black Tortoise Pavilion, wearing it allows entry into Black Tortoise Pavilion's sect protection array]

Oh? A token of commitment! Back in those days...

Such a pity, the system isn't so gossipy to expand on this part.

"Black Tortoise Pavilion is built on Black Tortoise Mountain." The old dragon waved his right hand, and a magnificent scene appeared in mid-air, "You need to enter from the waterway, follow the stream into this cave, and at the end, you'll see a towering stone wall. Wearing the jade pendant allows you to enter directly, and at that time, a sect patrol team will come to inquire, you present the jade pendant and naturally, someone will lead you to meet her."

Jiang Yuan remembered this, then called his contract pet to the side and handed him a teleportation talisman, "I will return as soon as possible, not sure how long these elixirs and bee venom can last. If the situation seems off, retreat first; don't let yourself be in danger."

"Rest assured, Venerable Family, although it's far away, you must also take care of your safety."

"Then I won't delay any longer, I'll go and come back soon!"

They bid each other simple farewells, with Bai Yunqi staying in the underground palace to follow the old dragon in learning the complete cultivation technique; as Jiang Yuan took out the teleportation scroll, input Black Tortoise Mountain, and clicked teleport.

"Swish!"

Instantly arrived, he discerned the path pointed out by the old dragon, surprisingly unchanged over the years, making it convenient to enter the mountain.

As soon as his left foot stepped into the water, the golden fish of the Double Fish Jade Pendant suddenly appeared, swiftly carrying him towards the cave.

Sure enough, at the end of the narrow cave, there was no road, just a towering, smooth stone wall. Jiang Yuan held the jade pendant and closed his eyes as he moved forward; the stone wall softened like water and caved in.

"Biu!"

The next second, he smoothly entered the stone wall; his vision suddenly brightened, filled with rich spiritual energy in his nostrils.

Amidst the vast and majestic landscape, imposing architectural structures brimming with immortal energy were built upon the mountain peaks, even the tallest one floated above the rainbow. This scene completely fulfilled Jiang Yuan's imagination about ancient sects.

"Who goes there?" As he marveled, eyes not enough for the splendor, turning his head in all directions, a team of young men dressed in uniform dark attire came lined up via sword flight, weapons in their hands gleaming with cold light attentively gazing at him.

Jiang Yuan promptly presented the jade pendant, explaining that he was sent by a senior to seek Lin Yao.

"Such is to seek the Supreme Elder?"

"Since the jade pendant can allow him to enter the sect protection array, it should not be fake."

"So, let's hand him over to the senior brother; we aren't qualified to meet the Supreme Elder..."

......

After a brief discussion among the youngsters, they asked him to wait in place and report layer by layer.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, a pair of children came over to lead the way.

Jiang Yuan couldn't perform sword flight; he had to blow a paper crane to ride towards the palace above the rainbow in mid-air.

"Years have passed quickly, I've almost forgotten when this jade pendant was given away." In the garden blooming with flowers, Lin Yao, who has become the Supreme Elder, has evidently taken the Youthful Appearance Pill, though able to maintain a youthful appearance, a dense twilight cannot be concealed in her eyes. She gestured for Jiang Yuan to sit down, gave him a once-over, and smiled, "What is your relationship with Zhou Jian? He actually entrusted the jade pendant to you to see me."

Meeting the pertinent figure, Jiang Yuan promptly clarified his purpose, awaiting a response.

As long as Lin Yao agrees to detoxify the old dragon, task 1 can be completed smoothly!

However, she was silent for a moment, sighed, "During our youth, we didn't recognize each other before fighting, indeed had a good rapport. But he hid his origin, making me feel annoyed, coupled with some significantly differing opinions, different paths meant parting ways. Now he's seeking rescue... whether it violates sect rules to save his life, I need to think about it carefully."

Really? The first task is so laborious?

Jiang Yuan looked at the reward's blueprint fragment, inquired, "Pardon Senior's concerns, does your sect's rules not permit saving people?"

"It's not that saving people is not permitted; on the contrary, the sect's rules only allow saving people. That Zhou Jian is not of our human race, you should know, right?"

Lin Yao gazed at him with a benevolent smile, sighing, "These years, the sect has remained hidden and seldom emerged from the mountain; no idea of the enormous changes outside. Now seeing a young cultivator like you grown accomplished, I am indeed gratified."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan thought there must be a story here! Could it possibly be related to the break between humans and demon beasts?

"I'm still young, unaware of past matters, Could Senior enlighten?"

"That's a long-long-lost enmity." Lin Yao couldn't discern the boy before her, only knowing he belonged to the same race yet not detecting a trace of spiritual energy, she was very satisfied with the younger generation, so she squinted slightly in remembrance, "Before my master's master was born.

During ancient times, this world was actually dominated by humans.

Recorded information indicates that humans lived in a world rich in spiritual energy, free of wars and disputes. Because of the land's spiritual essence, there arose phenomenal cultivators one after another, quite a few ascended to become immortals.

However, the greatest obstacle for our human race is that cultivating immortality necessitates a spirit root, which is a hurdle. Even if the land was spiritually rich enough to breed amazing people, those able to cultivate were extremely rare, so countless times the population base was needed to ensure sufficient numbers of cultivators.

Originally everything was good, sect disciples safeguarding human race, ensuring peace and prosperity, giving birth to enough children, one batch after another joining the sect attaining immortal

Until... one day a world suddenly collapsed, a great number of demon beasts invaded our world."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan suddenly felt an ominous premonition!